UPS Driver Circuit Narrowing DC Bus Voltage Range

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional UPS systems face inefficiencies and increased complexity due to the wide operational voltage range of the DC bus, which is amplified by high discharge rate batteries like lead-acid or lithium-ion, leading to reduced power efficiency and higher costs.

Innovation Solution

A backup power system with a DC bus operating at a narrower voltage range than the battery module, utilizing a driver circuit with separate charging and discharging paths and a boost circuit to control the battery voltage, ensuring efficient power supply and protection against faults.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a backup battery with high discharge rate is used, then the power supply capability is improved, but the DC bus voltage drops significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply capabilityVSAvoidDC bus voltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A DC-DC converter is introduced as an intermediary device between the battery and the DC bus. The converter actively regulates the battery voltage to match the DC bus voltage, preventing significant voltage drops even when high discharge rate batteries are used. This mediator isolates the voltage instability from the DC bus while allowing the battery to provide high power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a wide operational range of DC bus voltage is designed, then the battery discharge rate can be accommodated, but the power efficiency decreases and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage range adaptabilityVSAvoidpower efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the operational parameters by maintaining a narrow, fixed DC bus voltage range while allowing the battery voltage to operate over a wide range. The DC-DC converter dynamically adjusts its conversion ratio to accommodate battery voltage variations, keeping the DC bus voltage stable and narrow-ranged, which optimizes power efficiency and reduces system cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a wide operational range of DC bus voltage is required, then the system can handle battery voltage variations, but the complexity of supply and conversion operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage range adaptabilityVSAvoidsupply and conversion operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The DC-DC converter serves as an intelligent intermediary that automatically manages the voltage matching between battery and DC bus. It incorporates control circuitry that monitors battery voltage and dynamically adjusts the conversion ratio, eliminating the need for complex manual supply and conversion operations while handling the full range of battery voltage variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enhances the efficiency and reduces the operational complexity and cost of the UPS system by maintaining a narrower DC bus voltage range, improving power supply reliability and fault protection.

Implementation Method 1

a battery module for supplying backup power to the load, where the battery module operates at a battery voltage having a second operational range

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrochemical energy storage and discharge: Battery (electricity)

Implementation Method 2

a boost circuit for controlling the battery voltage in the second portion of the charging period by matching the battery voltage to a target voltage level that is higher than the DC bus voltage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical voltage boosting: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS9667094B1Battery backup system for uninterrupted power supply
Publication Date: 2017.05.30 GOOGLE LLC
  • US9667094B1 patent drawing
  • US9667094B1 patent drawing
  • US9667094B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and systems supply uninterrupted power to a load using a backup battery module. A driver circuit connects the load and the backup battery module such that the operational range of the load voltage is narrower than the operational range of the battery voltage. Different charging and discharging paths of the driver circuit may be used to limit the DC bus voltage to values lower than the battery voltage. The proposed systems and methods can increase power efficiency and decrease the cost of power supply and conversion operations.